Wessex League club facing uncertain future after manager, chairman and secretary all leave in wake of FA decision to null and void season

The Magpies were four points clear at the top of the Premier Division with eight games left to play when the season was halted.

They still had bottom two Amesbury and Cowes to play, with Baffins Milton (twice) and Brockenhurst - two other clubs in the bottom seven - still on their fixture list as well.

Though fourth-placed Christchurch were 11 points behind with four games in hand, the Dorset club still had to play third-placed AFC Portchester twice and second-placed Stoneham once.

Alresford were also in great form - having won eight out of their last nine league games with Hawks loanee Ollie Dennett and ex-Gosport Borough men Craig McAllister and Mike Gosney in fine form.

But once news broke that the FA were looking to null and void steps 3-7, Alresford boss Richard Luffman quit.

And following the FA Council’s decision to endorse that decision, chairman Stuart Munro and secretary/treasurer Keith Curtis have now decided to walk away from Arlebury Park as well.

Writing in a statement, Curtis - who had been involved with Alresford for almost 20 years - said ‘the resignations cast doubts on the ability of the club to carry on next season unless there is anyone willing to step into the breach.’

Luffman and Munro arrived at Alresford from Hampshire Premier League club Otterbourne in the summer of 2016.

The Otters had just finished second behind Baffins Milton in the top flight of the HPL, but folded after the season ended.

Alresford were in need of fresh blood after finishing second bottom of the Wessex Premier.

Munro and Luffman hatched a five-year plan to get Alresford into the Southern League, and they were on target to get them 12 months ahead of schedule prior to the FA’s controversial decision to null and void.

AFC Telford chairman Andy Pryce, whose club play in the National League North, said earlier this week that some people involved in non-league football could be lost to the game due to the FA’s decision.

‘I’ve spoke with so many chairman over the last few weeks or people involved in football at this level or the level below,’ Pryce said.

“And in the leagues below they have just fallen out of love with the game after what has happened.

‘These are people that have been involved all their lives, they’ve had championships, promotion pushes, and had it taken away from them.

‘These are people with not loads of money, but good intentions.

‘If we lose people like that from the non-league pyramid it’s not good for the game.

‘It’s going to be very difficult for a lot of teams. It’s going to be scary.’

Those words seem to sum up the situation at Alresford, and we must now wait to see whether the club survives.